President Joe Biden's administration announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Energy will make a $6.6 billion loan to Rivian Automotive to build a factory in Georgia that had stalled as the startup electric vehicle maker struggled to become profitable.

Rivian paused work on the plant earlier this year amid financial difficulties. The factory is supposed to produce midsize and crossover SUVs.

Months after Rivian halted construction of its east Georgia factory, a lifeline from the federal government could help it restart the highly anticipated project. Why it matters: Rivian's planned 2,000-acre compound roughly 50 miles east of Atlanta,